My Hand Can Art Exhibit Opens Uptown

The My Hand Can art exhibition opens at the Mint Museum Uptown on September 3, showcasing the works of OrthoCarolina Hand Center patients.

From concert musicians and professional artists whose careers were in jeopardy, to children born with abnormalities and more, the show entwines art with emotion and mixes professional artists’ work with that of novices. Each work was completed by a hand patient who has healed, returned and succeeded in some way, whether conquering massive career-threatening injuries, fully experiencing the joy of childhood or rediscovering simple joys in life such as knitting and gardening.

“Overcoming adversity is the common thread of all the art you’ll see featured in My Hand Can. We’re proud not only of our patients’ strength but also of their willingness to express how they feel after what sometimes has been a traumatic injury or significant surgery,” said Glenn Gaston, MD, Chief of Hand Surgery at OrthoCarolina’s Hand Center. “We’re honored that The Mint Museum is so graciously allowing us the opportunity to show off such a different kind of art.”

The idea for the My Hand Can campaign originally came from a young OrthoCarolina Hand Center patient whose index finger was surgically removed and reattached to function as a thumb. Upon discovering the ability to grip a paintbrush, the child’s reaction was “Now I can paint you a picture with this hand.”

OrthoCarolina and The Mint Museum will host a public opening for a special new art exhibit, My Hand Can, on Wednesday, September 3 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. that is free and open to the public. The exhibition will be on view from September 3-14 during normal museum operating hours. For more information on My Hand Can, visit myhandcan.com.